Preparation for Sunday mass: Luke 18:9-14

9 He also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous and regarded others with contempt: 10 "Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 11 The Pharisee, standing by himself, was praying thus, 'God, I thank you that I am not like other people: thieves, rogues, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. 12 I fast twice a week; I give a tenth of all my income.' 13 But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even look up to heaven, but was beating his breast and saying, 'God, be merciful to me, a sinner!' 14 I tell you, this man went down to his home justified rather than the other; for all who exalt themselves will be humbled, but all who humble themselves will be exalted."

For adults:

- What does the prayer of the Pharisee reveal about how he sees himself and how he sees others?

- What does the prayer of the tax collector reveal about how he sees himself and how he sees others?

- Why does the tax collector go home justified, that is reconciled with God?

For children:

- What can we know about the Pharisee from Jesus’s parable?

- What can we know about the tax collector from Jesus’s parable?

- Why does God hear the prayer of the tax collector?